March 4, 2021
Economic relief policies can reduce reports of child neglect
A team of University of Washington researchers from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and the School of Public Health have found how anti-poverty policies can lead to a reduction in cases of child neglect. The researchers examined the relationship between Earned Income Tax Credit benefits and the number of child abuse and…
March 2, 2021
Spotlight: Weichao Yuwen addresses caregivers’ needs through tech-enabled health solutions
Weichao Yuwen, assistant professor of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership at University of Washington Tacoma, combines her passion for healthcare and family research into her ongoing work to promote technology-enabled health solutions for family caregivers. While pursuing her undergraduate degree in nursing at Arizona State University, Yuwen became involved in research examining how culture impacts adolescent…
February 25, 2021
Initiative offers supportive mechanisms to spur social entrepreneurship and innovation
As a large public research institution with nearly 300 research centers, the University of Washington serves as an intellectual hub for creating innovative and impactful ideas. Many of these innovations aim to address critical population health challenges, grappling with existing social inequities and seeking to positively impact and address the needs of vulnerable populations. Despite…
February 23, 2021
New research identifies COVID-19 through wastewater testing
New research from the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences demonstrates the efficacy of skimmed-milk flocculation for rapidly detecting COVID-19 outbreaks through wastewater. The process involves adding skim milk to raw wastewater; through this concoction, researchers can isolate and detect viral RNA. The environmental surveillance research was supported by the Population…
February 19, 2021
Individuals with spinal cord injury regain hand and arm function with new treatment
A new treatment developed by researchers from the University of Washington Center for Neurotechnology has helped individuals with spinal cord injuries recover hand and arm mobility. The treatment combines traditional physical therapy with a non-invasive method of stimulating nerve cells in the spinal cord. Findings show that research study participants recovered hand and arm function for…
February 17, 2021
Study finds sexual harassment claims seen as more credible if made by ‘prototypical’ women
A new UW-led study finds that women who are viewed as “conventionally attractive” and act feminine are viewed as more credible when making accusations of sexual harassment than those who do not fit the prototype. The study was inspired by the #MeToo movement, prompting the researchers to investigate the notion of credibility and its implications…
February 11, 2021
Nominate “unsung heroes” in population health for recognition in the Hans Rosling Center
The University of Washington has announced an exciting opportunity to recognize and celebrate a diverse array of leaders in population health through the honorific naming of 18 spaces – including classrooms, meeting spaces and terraces – in and around the university’s new Hans Rosling Center for Population Health. Nominations of individuals or teams who should…
February 10, 2021
UW research team works to detect COVID-19 in wastewater
A team of University of Washington researchers are examining wastewater samples to identify and monitor COVID-19 infections on a community level. By measuring the amount of viral RNA and comparing it to the number of molecules usually present in human waste, researchers can determine the approximate percentage of people with COVID-19 in a community. The…
February 9, 2021
Initiative-funded COVID-19 rapid response grantees report final results
The University of Washington Population Health Initiative funded 21 COVID-19 rapid response grants to faculty-led teams in April 2020. Since April, the interdisciplinary project teams have made significant progress towards understanding and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple facets of life. The projects are now closing out, and highlights of each one are shared…
February 4, 2021
Utilizing community pharmacists to provide a coordinated response to epilepsy care
Epilepsy is among the most common neurological diseases, affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Within Washington state, approximately 75,000 live with epilepsy. Though treatments exist, epilepsy care is often fragmented and uncoordinated. This directly impacts individual and population health outcomes, leading to significant health and socioeconomic disparities. In recognition of this critical population health…